Stakeholder engagement & communications

Overview

We completed a comprehensive community consultation focused on improving service access and engagement for people from Chin, Karen, and Mizo communities (originating from Myanmar). The project also aimed to enhance service provider knowledge and capacity for culturally safe practice with these communities.

Need

Government, health, and community service providers recognised a need to better support the growing number of people previously from Myanmar settling in the outer EMR, many of whom have experienced trauma and face settlement challenges. Providers lacked specific socio-cultural knowledge about the Chin, Karen, and Mizo communities, hindering effective engagement and service accessibility for community members.

Approach

The project involved demographic research and extensive community consultations conducted between April and September 2023. We engaged 27 community members (including leaders, young leaders, and youth) from Chin, Karen, and Mizo backgrounds through interviews and focus groups. We also consulted 28 service providers across various sectors (refugee/settlement, youth, family, health, government, education) via interviews and workshops.

Key outcomes

·       Identified key community support structures (church, cultural organisations), strengths (strong leadership, resilience, community orientation), and challenges (trauma impacts, racism, intergenerational issues, language barriers, differing health frameworks)

·       Produced a detailed community consultation report summarising findings and recommendations

o   Analysed service engagement success factors (relationship building, use of bicultural workers/translators, culturally safe practices) and barriers (lack of trust, limited language resources, poor understanding of trauma impacts)

o   Developed specific, actionable recommendations for service providers to improve cultural capacity, engagement strategies, and service accessibility

Population groups supported

·       Chin, Karen, and Mizo community members (leaders, young people, families) in Melbourne's outer EMR (Maroondah, Knox, Yarra Ranges LGAs)

·       Community and government service providers seeking to improve engagement, including refugee/settlement services, youth services (AOD/MH), family services, health services, local/state government, and education providers

Impact

The consultation provided crucial insights into the experiences, strengths, and needs of the Chin, Karen, and Mizo communities in the outer EMR. The findings and recommendations equipped service providers with practical strategies to build trust, enhance cultural safety, overcome access barriers, and deliver more effective and appropriate services, ultimately improving support for these communities.

Capabilities engaged

·       Community consultation (cross-cultural)

·       Stakeholder engagement (community leaders, youth, service providers)

·       Qualitative research design and analysis

·       Demographic data review

·       Culturally sensitive practice assessment

·       Report writing and recommendations development

·       Workshop facilitation

Client: Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) - Funded by Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN)

Project size: <$30K

Overview

We assisted Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL) to develop a Advocacy and Engagement Strategy (2023-2024) for their Housing Justice Partnership. The project included creating an infographic of evaluation findings and journey maps showing estimated cost savings to government.

Need

Following a successful two-year pilot demonstrating the effectiveness of co-locating lawyers within housing services (The Salvation Army and VincentCare), IMCL needed a strategic approach to communicate these positive outcomes to government funders and policymakers. The goal was to build understanding of the model's value, demonstrate potential cost savings, and secure funding to continue and scale the partnership.

Approach

We developed the strategy collaboratively, informed by consultations with IMCL staff and Housing Justice Partnership partners, alongside findings from the program's evaluation and Theory of Change. The strategy defined clear principles, identified primary and secondary target audiences within government departments and key sector organisations, crafted specific key messages, and outlined a detailed engagement plan with risk mitigation.

Key outcomes

·       Developed a comprehensive Government Advocacy and Engagement Strategy (2023-2024)

·       Created a supporting infographic visually summarising key evaluation findings

·       Identified and prioritised key government and sector decision-makers and influencers

·       Crafted tailored key messages focused on funding needs, the integrated service model's effectiveness, identified client needs, and alignment with government priorities

·       Outlined a structured plan of engagement activities, timelines, and responsibilities

·       Established a framework for monitoring progress and adapting the strategy

·       Created visual ‘journey maps’ showing estimated cost savings

Target group

·       Government decision-makers and influencers in housing, justice, and treasury departments

Impact

The strategy provided IMCL with a clear, evidence-based roadmap to advocate for the continuation and expansion of the Housing Justice Partnership. By targeting key decision-makers with tailored messages supported by evaluation data and an engaging infographic, the strategy aimed to influence policy, secure necessary funding, and promote the scaling of integrated legal and housing support models across Victoria.

Capabilities engaged

·       Advocacy and government engagement strategy development

·       Stakeholder analysis and mapping

·       Key message development

·       Evaluation synthesis and communication

·       Infographic design support

·       Communications planning

·       Risk assessment and mitigation planning

Client: Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL)

 Project size: <$30K

Overview

We facilitated a series of youth co-design workshops to inform the development and operationalisation of the Integrated Youth Health Hub (IYHH) in the Yarra Ranges. The project helped give local young people in shaping key elements of the Hub's service offerings and environment.

Need

For the IYHH to be truly effective, accessible, and engaging for its target audience (12-25 year olds), it was crucial to involve young people directly in its design. Their expertise was needed to ensure the Hub's environment, activities, staff approach, and access methods resonated with youth preferences and addressed potential barriers to engagement.

Approach

We conducted three co-design workshops with members of the Yarra Ranges Council's existing Youth Reference Group (YRG). These workshops systematically explored the three core service types planned for the IYHH: Universal Health Promotion, Low-Intensity Coaching, and Enhanced Case Management. We used interactive methods, including discussions around the 'Wheel of Wellbeing' and the 'Open Talent' coaching model, alongside brainstorming activities, to gather insights on preferred activities, staff qualities, engagement methods, and physical space design. Findings were synthesised and presented back to the Hub's advisory group.

Key outcomes

·       Identified youth preferences for Hub accessibility, including those related to staff qualities, environmental design, and engagement.

·       Generated a diverse list of youth-preferred health promotion activities.

·       Defined desired qualities for IYHH coaches and relevant coaching activities.

·       Outlined key case management activities valued by young people, emphasising referral, advocacy, crisis support, and practical assistance.

·       Facilitated a direct feedback and recommendations presentation from young people to the IYHH advisory group.

Population groups supported

·       Young people (aged approx. 16-25) participating in the Yarra Ranges Youth Reference Group, including individuals identifying with First Nations, Maori, Native American/Mexican, and British Australian backgrounds.

·       Indirectly: All future young people (12-25) accessing the IYHH, who benefit from a service designed with youth input.

Impact

The co-design process directly embedded youth voice into the IYHH's foundation. The insights gathered ensured the Hub's services, environment, and engagement strategies were more likely to be relevant, appealing, and effective for young people in the Yarra Ranges, increasing the potential for positive health and wellbeing outcomes.

Capabilities engaged

·       Youth co-design and participation

·       Workshop facilitation (youth-focused)

·       Qualitative data gathering and synthesis

·       Use of engagement tools (e.g., Wheel of Wellbeing)

·       Stakeholder communication (reporting to advisory group)

Client: Inspiro Community Health Service (on behalf of the IYHH Consortium)

 Project size: <30K

Overview

We conducted a statewide consultation with the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) sector on behalf of VAADA and developed VAADA's submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Need

The Royal Commission presented a critical opportunity to address long-standing fragmentation between the mental health and AOD service systems. VAADA required a robust, evidence-based submission reflecting the AOD sector's experiences and recommendations for reform, particularly concerning the significant cohort of individuals experiencing co-occurring conditions.

Approach

The project involved a multi-faceted consultation process across Victoria between May and July 2019. This included:

·       A statewide online survey distributed to the AOD workforce (254 responses)

·       Regional workshops engaging managers, service development staff, and people with a lived experience (54 participants)

·       In-depth interviews with key informants, including CEOs and principal practitioners (13 participants). We synthesised these findings (from 321 participants total), alongside literature reviews and prevalence data, to develop a detailed submission addressing system integration and operational coordination issues

Key outcomes

·       Successfully engaged a broad cross-section of the Victorian AOD sector

·       Produced a comprehensive submission to the Royal Commission

o   Identified key challenges and successes in areas such as funding, frameworks, data, networks, workforce development, lived experience inclusion, prevention, service access, treatment, and community connection

o   Developed 26 specific, actionable recommendations for system reform aimed at improving integrated care for people with co-occurring AOD and mental health needs

Groups supported

·       The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (as the primary audience for the submission)

·       Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug Association (VAADA) and its member organisations

·       The Victorian AOD workforce (clinicians, managers, peer workers)

·       Indirectly: People in Victoria experiencing co-occurring AOD and mental health needs, and their families

Impact

The consultation provided a unified platform for the Victorian AOD sector to voice its concerns and solutions regarding co-occurring needs. The resulting submission delivered evidence-based insights and concrete recommendations to the Royal Commission, significantly contributing to the discourse on mental health system reform and advocating for better integration and coordination between the AOD and mental health sectors.

Capabilities engaged

·       Literature review

·       Large-scale statewide sector consultation

·       Mixed-methods research and data analysis

·       Stakeholder engagement

·       Policy analysis and development

·       Submission writing and recommendations development

Client: Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug Association (VAADA)

Project size: $30K-$50K